I just got my blood tests back today. Here are the results with the ranges:
Thyroid Peroxidase: 279 (<=36)
TSH 1.979 (0.35-6)
Free T4 0.69 (0.6-2.4)
Free T3 3.61 (2.39-6.79)
So, obviously you can see that all my levels are normal except for the sky high antibodies. What do you make of this?
I have a history of enlarged thyroid, and also of hypo & hyperthyroidism in my family.
The doctor who read these results seems to think the high peroxidase has to do with inflammation in my gut, so all she recommended was that I go on a gluten, sugar, and dairy free diet for 3 months and then retest. I'm not so sure about this. Any help would be appreciated.
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rilec
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Well, that's the first doctor I've heard on this forum that makes the link between good gut function and thyroid autoimmune condition. Maybe you've got a good doctor there.
Thyroid Peroxidase: 279 (<=36) Thyroid antibodies are elevated so you have autoimune thyroiditis commonly known as Hashimotos. YOu can read more about it on Thyroid UK website. thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
TSH 1.979 (0.35-6) TSH is normal for someone without thyroid disease.
Free T4 0.69 (0.6-2.4) FT4 is low. It's usually said to be better in the top third of the range.
Free T3 3.61 (2.39-6.79) FT3 is low, it would also be expected to be in the top third of the range.
Has your doctor considered a sluggish pituitary response? The reason I ask is that your TSH is normal and Free's are lowish although doctors may consider them normal. I would have thought that TSH would be a little more elevated with low Frees but then it could be to do with Hashimotos antibodies. Maybe someone else on here might comment with a different view? It might be something to ask doc about. It's not something I know anything about.
As you have Hashimotos, going gluten free is a great idea. SlowDragon has good links on this but it's late now so perhaps you'll get a response tomorrow, I've tagged her into this post.
The problem with antibodies is that they fluctuate. So, even if they're lower next time you test, there's no guarantee that they won't rise again.
A gluten-free diet might help with lowering antibodies - although it's difficult to prove, due to the fluctuation - but I don't think sugar and dairy really affect them. What would be a better bet would be to put you onto thyroid hormone replacement, so that your Frees rise a bit - they are rather low - and your TSH is suppressed. The less gland activity there is, the less antibody activity. But, I cannot imagine she will agree to that. Doctors are terrified of a suppressed TSH!
I would ask that she test your B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D.
Post results and ranges when you get them on a new post
If these are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working well. Then bloods appear "normal" but actually you can be very hypo.
It sounds like your GP is a good one in that she realises the link between thyroid and gut
Certainly very many of us find gluten free diet really helps or is essential
Some are grain free. Some dairy free
Dairy may just need to be casein free, which is cows milk not goats milk
Sugar free is to knock out gut bugs like candida.
A few are strong willed enough to do the lot, certainly for a few weeks, then slowly introduced milk or sugar back in
Often gluten free is necessary long term.
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Medichecks Thyroid or Blue Horizon Thyroid are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Your FT4 and FT3 are both low. See if they improve with diet change and vitamin supplements. But if not then ask for referral to endo for further testing. As others have said possibly for central hypothyroidism if TSH remains low
But it may just be a TSH is low due to low vitamins
You are likely to need Levothyroxine in the future
In normal range but both frees very low in range. You'd expect a higher TSH with those levels, but high TPO suggests Hashis. Can you have Hashis and central hypo at the same time?
Thanks for all the great information. I plan to get a second opinion...giving up gluten sounds like a smart idea but I have read that apparently there is controversy about high antibodies with "normal" ranges of everything else, and some say that I am probably still experiencing hypo symptoms (which I am, I am very low energy, have sleep problems and feel freezing cold at night), and would benefit from some kind of medicine for it. The dr I saw specifically said she wouldn't treat this with medication when my other levels are in the normal ranges. If all of that is true, that's not ok with me, since I'm in need of relief of symptoms.
I actually requested a CBC as well when they took my blood. My vitamin D is low, and my magnesium is in the very low range. Ferritin also looks low to me, but I don't know what that means.
Vitamin D 19.68 (30-100)
Vitamin B12 324 (180-914)
Folate 14.92 (5.21-40)
Ferritin 12.3 (11-307)
Iron 115 (55-165)
Magnesium 1.78 (1.7-2.8)
I plan to start taking 5,000iu of Vitamin D/day as soon as it arrives. Also will be going back on magnesium - I used to supplement that heavily but stopped a few months ago.
Your ferritin is desperately low. It should be closer to 150 in that range. Your gut must be too low in necessary acid to absorb it. Eating liver or taking supplements will only help if you add Betaine HCL to metabolise it.
Well ok, already I have another update...my family knows an endocrinologist. I showed him my numbers and he advised:
Minimal thyroid issues at this time. Due to increased antibodies it’s only a matter of time before TSH creeps up and I’m hypothyroid. He said a 4-6 week trial of a low dose thyroid med to see if I feel better couldn’t hurt.
Does that sound right to everyone on here?
I said I’ll have to think about it. I definitely want to try something to see if I feel better, but I don’t want it to be Levothyroxine, I want something natural.
Autoimmune conditions are usually connected to gut issues. That's why gluten free is recommended. Part of the gluten protein looks like thyroid tissue, hence if your immune system doesn't like gluten it may also go after thyroid. This five minute video explains TPO and it's the third time I'm posting this today so you can see it's a very common problem.
Hi I'm relatively new but might I suggest that you re-post your vitamin results to get specific advice on them as they seem really low which is probably contributing to your symptoms.
Also you could try NDT (natural desiccated thyroid hormone) if you don't want to try the "synthetic" levothyroxine.
Since your antibodies are so high you definitely have hashimotos which means that the antibodies are attacking your thyroid so you need replacement hormones sooner or later so maybe you shouldn't be too hung up on being "natural". Although I totally understand your sentiment!!! I don't know if anybody starts with NDT or if they start with the levothyroxine then convert to the NDT if they feel so inclined.
Anyway - wishing you the best of luck with your journey. It isn't simple - there are lots of associated problems like vitamin deficiencies and stomach problems but I've learned a lot from this forum and am on the mend!
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